Jeremiah Trotter Jr. finally got onto the field on defense Monday night, and now the question hanging over the Eagles is whether that was just a one-time look or the start of something bigger.
Vic Fangio didn’t exactly shut the door when asked about it. “It's possible,” Fangio said. “But didn't feel the need to.”
That six-snap cameo in the loss to the Bears was Trotter’s first defensive work of the season, and it came late. Still, with the Eagles searching for answers on that side of the ball, the conversation around his role is only going to grow louder.
The clearest reason is the state of the linebackers in front of him. Philadelphia is not moving off Jihaad Campbell, even with the rookie’s rough patches in coverage. Campbell has made splash plays in three games, including a sack and forced fumble, but quarterbacks have also completed 9 of 11 throws for 116 yards and a touchdown when targeting him as the primary defender, good for a 140.9 rating.
That’s not all on Campbell. The Eagles’ pass rush has been too quiet, and that puts the linebackers in tough spots.
Philadelphia ranks 24th in pressure rate at 34.0%, and opponents are posting a 117.1 passer rating in the second half of games. The ripple effect is showing up everywhere.
Zack Baun has been part of the same problem in coverage, which is where the calls for Trotter start to make sense. But the larger picture matters too: the Eagles have communication problems in the secondary, only three sacks through three games, no sacks on third down, and they’ve been one of the league’s weakest second-half defenses.
The numbers are ugly across the board. Philadelphia is 27th in yards allowed per game at 187.7, 20th in yards per play allowed at 5.7, 29th in pass yards per game allowed at 78.0, and 25th in opponents’ third down conversion rate at 45.0%.
Changes are already happening elsewhere. At safety, Marcus Epps and Michael Carter are splitting reps.
Cooper DeJean is not moving to safety, and Kenny Moore could be in line for snaps sooner rather than later. Jonathan Greenard is also seeing more time at edge rusher, which should help the pass rush if that uptick actually turns into results.
Still, the Eagles appear committed to riding with Campbell because he’s a first-round pick. If Trotter gets more run this week, it won’t be because Campbell has been pushed aside.
Baun’s status could open the door. He’s in concussion protocol, and it’s not yet clear whether he’ll be cleared in time for Sunday. If he’s out, Trotter may get his best shot yet.
The argument for him is pretty straightforward. He may not have Campbell’s athletic profile, but he tends to show up where the ball is and make the right play.
Strip away the surname, and what stands out is his understanding of the game. He uses that well.
Of course, if the pass rush keeps sputtering, Trotter is going to feel that pressure too. But he’d at least be in position to make something happen. The expectations shouldn’t be sky-high, but they should be real.
Sunday could be the opening he’s been waiting for. He looks like a starter somewhere in the NFL. Maybe Philadelphia is where that happens.
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For a defense that wanted clarity on the back end after letting Blankenship leave in free agency, the arrangement is at least a workable answer for now, but not exactly a settled one. The Eagles are getting useful snaps from each defender, yet the continued rotation also leaves open the bigger question of whether one of them will seize the spot outright or whether this becomes a long-term committee. [Read more 🡒]